hardware
August 11, 2008 11:52 AM Subscribe
My laptop keyboard isn't working, and I'm not sure whether its a hardware or software problem.
Situation: On my Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop running XP I have just restarted. When I am up and running I can use my USB mouse and the touchpad mouse below my keyboard. However, as soon as I press a key on my keyboard, it disables the touchpad while I can still use my USB mouse.
Is this a hardware problem (Should I send my laptop to Dell repair?), or is this a software problem? I want to backup all my data and reinstall XP, but I'm not sure I should do this not knowing whether or not my keyboard will work. Any suggestions?
Situation: On my Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop running XP I have just restarted. When I am up and running I can use my USB mouse and the touchpad mouse below my keyboard. However, as soon as I press a key on my keyboard, it disables the touchpad while I can still use my USB mouse.
Is this a hardware problem (Should I send my laptop to Dell repair?), or is this a software problem? I want to backup all my data and reinstall XP, but I'm not sure I should do this not knowing whether or not my keyboard will work. Any suggestions?
Hit whatever key corresponds with BIOS entry (F1, F12, whatever it might be) during boot and see if the keyboard works in the system BIOS
posted by alcoth at 12:02 PM on August 11, 2008
posted by alcoth at 12:02 PM on August 11, 2008
Response by poster: To do that, would I just take out my hard drive, put in an ubuntu installation cd and start the computer? Keep in mind I can't use my keyboard.
posted by londontomasbird at 12:02 PM on August 11, 2008
posted by londontomasbird at 12:02 PM on August 11, 2008
Response by poster: Yea, when I press F2 to get into my setup, the keyboard does work. Because its a software problem, I guess I'll just back up my data and reinstall XP.
posted by londontomasbird at 12:15 PM on August 11, 2008
posted by londontomasbird at 12:15 PM on August 11, 2008
You can leave your hard drive in, the Ubuntu CD won't install anything until you explicitly double-click the 'Install' icon and go through the steps. It's quite commonly used for this type of thing. Just pop the CD in and let it boot. It won't touch your hard drive unless you tell it to.
If things work in Ubuntu, it's a software problem. If you have the same problem, it's a hardware problem.
Keep in mind I can't use my keyboard.
Does it not work in the BIOS, as alcoth recommends? If that's the case, it's definitely a hardware problem.
posted by fogster at 12:18 PM on August 11, 2008
If things work in Ubuntu, it's a software problem. If you have the same problem, it's a hardware problem.
Keep in mind I can't use my keyboard.
Does it not work in the BIOS, as alcoth recommends? If that's the case, it's definitely a hardware problem.
posted by fogster at 12:18 PM on August 11, 2008
Response by poster: So does this mean I have some kind of virus that is targeting my keyboard?
posted by londontomasbird at 12:28 PM on August 11, 2008
posted by londontomasbird at 12:28 PM on August 11, 2008
Disabling the tochpad when you type is considered a "feature". Go in to Control Panel | Mouse, and look through the tabs until you find a "Touchpad" tab, and untick "disable touchpad when keyboard used".
If your Mouse control panel offers no such option, see if you can install the Dell Mouse coontrol for your particular computer, and see if it has that option.
posted by orthogonality at 1:14 PM on August 11, 2008
If your Mouse control panel offers no such option, see if you can install the Dell Mouse coontrol for your particular computer, and see if it has that option.
posted by orthogonality at 1:14 PM on August 11, 2008
« Older Finding a bike for an RSI sufferer in Seattle | Thoughts on volunteer travel in India with CCS Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by General Malaise at 11:58 AM on August 11, 2008 [1 favorite]